World Offset is an interactive website which allows individuals to pledge carbon offsets that alter the visuals in the eco-visualization. An eco-visualization is a creative animation that makes hidden or numeric environmental data visible and comprehensible.

The animation launched on March 22, 2008 with no carbon offsets. All of the spinning disks were then filled with devices that consume energy: hairdryers, toasters, cars, and airplanes.

The piece begins with no carbon offsets and all of the spinning disks are filled with devices that consume energy: hairdryers, cars, and airplanes. When the first 75,000 pounds of carbon are promised, a change occurs in the animation: trees replace hairdryers.

The initial goal of the animation was to offset at minimum 15,000 pounds of carbon, the amount that the average American consumes per year. The fact that so many real promises are required to offset the impact of one individual is in ...

Full Description

World Offset is an interactive website which allows individuals to pledge carbon offsets that alter the visuals in the eco-visualization. An eco-visualization is a creative animation that makes hidden or numeric environmental data visible and comprehensible.

The animation launched on March 22, 2008 with no carbon offsets. All of the spinning disks were then filled with devices that consume energy: hairdryers, toasters, cars, and airplanes.

The piece begins with no carbon offsets and all of the spinning disks are filled with devices that consume energy: hairdryers, cars, and airplanes. When the first 75,000 pounds of carbon are promised, a change occurs in the animation: trees replace hairdryers.

The initial goal of the animation was to offset at minimum 15,000 pounds of carbon, the amount that the average American consumes per year. The fact that so many real promises are required to offset the impact of one individual is in itself a demonstration of the enormous challenge of modifying human behavior to slow climate change. This initial goal of 15,000 lbs was met during the exhibition opening.

Presently, more than half a million pounds of carbon must be offset to fully “green” the animation at the "ECOVIZ" link on the site.